What’s come to mine, that he writes not to my
last?—­Hunting after more wisdom of nations,
I suppose!—­Yaw-yaw-yawning again!—­Pen,
begone!

LETTER VII

Mr. Lovelace, toJohnBelford,
Esq. Monday, may 29.

Now have I established myself for ever in my charmer’s
heart.

The Captain came at seven, as promised, and ready
equipped for his journey. My beloved chose not
to give us her company till our first conversation
was over—­ashamed, I suppose, to be present
at that part of it which was to restore her to her
virgin state by my confession, after her wifehood
had been reported to her uncle. But she took
her cue, nevertheless, and listened to all that passed.

The modestest women, Jack, must think, and think deeply
sometimes. I wonder whether they ever blush
at those things by themselves, at which they have
so charming a knack of blushing in company. If
not; and if blushing be a sign of grace or modesty;
have not the sex as great a command over their blushes
as they are said to have over their tears? This
reflection would lead me a great way into female minds,
were I disposed to pursue it.

I told the Captain, that I would prevent his question;
and accordingly (after I had enjoined the strictest
secrecy, that no advantage might be given to James
Harlowe, and which he had answered for as well on Mr.
Harlowe’s part as his own) I acknowledged nakedly
and fairly the whole truth—­to wit, ’That
we were not yet married. I gave him hints of
the causes of procrastination. Some of them
owing to unhappy misunderstandings: but chiefly
to the Lady’s desire of previous reconciliation
with her friends; and to a delicacy that had no example.’

Less nice ladies than this, Jack, love to have delays,
wilful and studied delays, imputed to them in these
cases—­yet are indelicate in their affected
delicacy: For do they not thereby tacitly confess,
that they expect to be the greatest estgainers in
wedlock; and that there is self-denial in the pride
they take in delaying?

’I told him the reason of our passing to the
people below as married—­yet as under a
vow of restriction, as to consummation, which had kept
us both to the height, one of forbearing, the other
of vigilant punctilio; even to the denial of those
innocent freedoms, which betrothed lovers never scruple
to allow and to take.

’I then communicated to him a copy of my proposal
of settlement; the substance of her written answer;
the contents of my letter of invitation to Lord M.
to be her nuptial-father; and of my Lord’s generous
reply. But said, that having apprehensions of
delay from his infirmities, and my beloved choosing
by all means (and that from principles of unrequited
duty) a private solemnization, I had written to excuse
his Lordship’s presence; and expected an answer
every hour.